Movies to Miss. Movie to Watch. Remake.

"See You in Valhalla"
starring: Sarah Hyland, Bret Harrison, Steve Howey, Odeya Rush, Michael Weston, Emma Bell, Alex Frost, Beau Mirchoff, Conor O'Farrell, Jake McDorman, Jamie Wozny, Allie Gonino
written by: Brent Tarnol
directed by: Jarrett Tarnol

You would think people are getting sick of the same movie plots, and that certain ones have been played to death- literally, in this case. Here, we have another young person who fled home after high school graduation, thinking they could make something better for themselves elsewhere, and they just could not handle their quirky family and the relationships have strained; only to return and regress due to a death in the family. One of my favorite movies of all-time definitely follows this premise (re: "Garden State") and so maybe I hold a candle to that film and comparatively, no other film as sated me since I could watch that one over and over again. I like that film so much because it was done very well. This one, though, has a hint of laziness in it, which is unfortunate.

Sarah Hyland (from "Modern Family") plays the main character, Johana, and right out of the gate she just seems out of her television element and is unable to really carry the weight of a full-length film. Johana is a young woman who clearly has some inner demons (which we find out about later in the story). She returns home, reluctantly, upon learning about her Viking-obsessed (really? was that necessary?) brother has died due to raiding and attacking a meth dealer with a sword. That's just a bit much, already, and we are only about 10 or 15 minutes into the film. She returns home and reunites with her wacky family, all the while, with a boy in tow as a sort of initiation, although you can tell she's just not that into him.

Johana's family includes:  Widower father Woody (Conor O'Farrell) is now dating his much younger hippie nurse, Faye (Emma Bell). Judgmental brother Don (Michael Weston) has trained his tween daughter to act just as snootily as he does. Gay psychologist brother Barry (Brett Harrison) shows up with his patient/boyfriend, an archery-loving stoner dude named Makewi (Steve Howey). Naturally, no one gets along, and Johana's past is dredged back up by the arrival of the ex-boyfriend (Beau Mirchoff) who made her flee in the first place. Only when Makewi suggests that everyone throw Magnus a “decent Viking funeral” (i.e. shooting flaming arrows into a boat containing his dead body) does everyone start to get on the same page.

The main problem, besides the heavy topics that are otherwise glossed over, which could have definitely added depth to the story, if the characters were allowed to explore the topics in more than just passing. The characters cannot do this, though, because they are one-dimensional, which is the fatal flaw. Each one of them is given one trait that is repetitively used, making it predictable and boring, not to mention annoying.

Sarah Hyland does a decent job attempting to bring her character to life. But it's really the dead brother, Magnus, whom we know nothing about, and so why should we even care that everyone in his family becomes moved and changed at the end of the film when they can finally agree to give him an appropriate and fitting Viking funeral. We don't know him, so why does any of it matter?

...............................................................................
"Oldboy"
starring: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen, Sharlto Copley, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Imperioli, Pom Klementieff, James Ransone, Max Casella, Linda Emond, Elvis Nolasco, Rami Malek, Lance Reddick, Hannah Ware, Hannah Simone, Richard Portnow
directed by: Spike Lee

Okay, what do you do when the original film was released a mere decade before a studio decides to remake it, with an American flavor and touch to it? How do you make sure it's authentic and genuine? Especially when the original has been garnered as one of the best films of the past 10 years.

Well, for starters, the studio could hire Spike Lee, who is arguably one of the best American filmmakers of the past couple of generations. And then, you could trust him. Unfortunately, apparently, the studio did not like the filmmaker's "reimagining" and cut/edited the film to their liking, which of course pissed off Spike Lee, evident in the absence of "A Spike Lee Joint" at the beginning and/or end of the film. His director's cut is apparently better.

Full disclosure: I have not seen the original, yet (which is also on Netflix, so I will), but this one was leaving the streaming service, so I decided to watch it, first. I was intrigued. I usually enjoy Spike Lee films and Josh Brolin has proven himself a decent actor (minus "Jonah Hex," of course), and I truly love Elizabeth Olsen and think she's an incredible actress on her way high, slowly.

Josh Brolin plays Joe Doucett, an alcoholic, thuggish businessman with quite a temper, anger issues, and some kind of death note on his head. He seems quite oblivious to the world around him unless it affects him. Brolin definitely gives it his all and his best shot, especially when things get rolling and he wakes up to a news story that his wife has been murdered (he's the only suspect) and his young daughter has been kidnapped. Add to that, the fact that he wakes up in a strange solitary confinement-type room. And he remains there for twenty years. Then, he is promptly released. When he is set free, Joe is told his job now is to discover and find the man who imprisoned him and answer "why?" Then, his captor will reunite Joe with his daughter.

The fight scenes are well done and Elizabeth Olsen gives her character, a nurse that seemingly comes out of nowhere but is in the right place at the right time to help Joe along his path of vengeance, all the while allowing both Joe and her to get extremely close. Close enough to create a controversial topic of discussion by the end of the film, which I certainly won't spoil for you here, but also it seems rather predictable, even if you have not seen the original and know. It's almost like you can see it all unfolding before it does.

Sharlto Copley kind of shows that he can do something other than motion-capture acting, as well, which he is best known for (like Andy Serkis), because he plays the bad guy with a certain zest and creepiness that leaves you wondering how screwed up he is.

But ultimately, I am not sure if this is a film that resonates because the majority of people believe it should not have even been made. I will definitely be watching the original. Soon.

........................................................................
"The Midnight Swim"
starring: Lindsay Burdge, Jennifer Lafleur, Aleksa Palladino, Beth Grant, Ross Partridge, Michelle Hutchinson, Shirley Venard
written and directed by: Sarah Adina Smith

This skirts the borderline of being a supernatural film and a faux-documentary/found-footage film all in one in the likes of "Paranormal Activity," all of which have certainly worn out their welcome many years ago. But, this one doesn't. This one feels like something else, perhaps because first-time director Sarah Adina Smith decides to explore her main characters- three sisters- instead of focusing on the supernatural aspect. I'll admit that piece of the film definitely gives it all an interesting flare, but ultimately this is a story about three sisters who have come back together because their mother has recently passed away and left a bit of a mystery behind in her wake. The three sisters meet at the old family lake house to reconnect and try to piece things together, but if anything happens it's that the mystery just becomes more mysterious.

Somewhat estranged siblings Annie (Jennifer Lafleur), Isa (Aleksa Palladino) and June (Lindsay Burdge) convene at their late mother’s lakeside home to spend some quality time together and decide what to do with the property. Annie wants to sell it, while Isa proposes transforming it into an artistic retreat — in keeping with the hippie-ish spirit of environmentalist mom Amelia (Beth Grant). June withdraws behind her camera, occasionally turning the lens on herself for confessional moments that suggest her shy demeanor may mask more severe mental issues.

I've found myself attracted to the mumblecore genre of films over recent years, perhaps because of the hipster in me, which I truly cannot deny.

In between the type of family squabbling, reconciling and reminiscing one would expect in a microbudget mumblecore drama, unusual events begin to pile up. Isa finds herself drawn to Annie’s one-time crush Josh (Ross Partridge), a divorced dad who never left the area and reminds the girls of a local legend about seven sisters who drowned, one after another, in the lake. A half-hearted alcohol-fueled attempt to conjure the spirits of those sisters late one night unsurprisingly fails, but the mysterious aftermath includes dead birds turning up on the doorstep and time-lapse footage appearing on June’s camera without explanation.

Sure, the paranormal aspect of the film is interesting and the director leaves things ambiguous enough to intrigue the viewer, but it's really about the fragile and somewhat broken psyches of the three, different sisters that remains the focus. Each sister is carrying their own weight in emotional baggage which they are hesitant to unpack and if we end up knowing too much, it almost feels like the film would be ruined for us. 

Smith has clearly studied films and filmmakers that she wants to be like (re: David Lynch) with the whole aspect of June's (Burdges) late night walks on the dock and subsequent swims- much like her mother used to do. Is June possessed by the spirit of her mother? Hmm. The film is loaded with heavy symbolism of "water equals rebirth," but it's still a decent indie film, worth watching. 

........................................................................
"Results"
starring: Cobie Smulders, Guy Pearce, Kevin Corrigan, Giovanni Ribisi, Brooklyn Decker, Anthony Michael Hall, Constance Zimmer, Zoe Graham, David Bernon
written and directed by: Andrew Bujalski

Cobie Smulders. Those eyes. That smile. She had me at "Hello."

I have liked Cobie Smulders ever since seeing her in the first season of 'How I Meet Your Mother" as well as "The Avengers" films (albeit that's a small role), but I've definitely thought she's had potential as a leading actress, given the right material- and foreseeably, most of them will be rom-com type films, unfortunately, because she just has that face and that quality, perhaps comparable to Kate Hudson, who has never really been able to break away from that fame. Although, there is something to be said for her as an actress, because apparently she did the film, with lots of fitness aspects within it, 5 months pregnant. Kudos to her.

Too bad, for Cobie Smulders, this small, indie mumblecore film is a rom-com that never adds up to anything. "Results" is about two fitness gurus who can't seem to find a way to be as in tune with their own emotions as they are with their bodies. Indie filmmaker, Bujalski, is clearly going for a much more mainstream, lighter approach to storytelling with this one, but it's just boring and too long. And it becomes clear very quickly that the director does not seem to be able to commit to the rom-com story and formula or to go for something a bit more experimental, which honestly would have been welcomed.

Cobie Smulders stars as the aggressively angry Kat, a fitness trainer at the Power 4 Life gym. When we first meet her she's doing what she loves most, running, only to encounter a client and harass them over late payments. Not that it was necessary since the gym is actually owned by Trevor (Guy Pearce), a veteran fitness instructor who fully embraces the physical and spiritual teachings he lays on his clients. Achieving one's goals and a continued path to self-improvement, "actualization", are what he champions but when it comes to his personal life that's something he hasn't had the same measure of success at.

It's pretty clear that something is up between Trevor and Kat, a tension that extends beyond their professional relationship. Things get more complicated with the arrival of Danny (Kevin Corrigan), a chubby, lazy loser who just inherited a substantial fortune. But he's still lonely and heartbroken after a bad break-up, and comes to Power 4 Life looking to whip himself into shape. "I want to learn how to take a punch", he says, but what he really desires is some company. Against Trevor's better judgement Kat becomes Danny's trainer, only to stumble into an awkward romantic encounter fueled by too much weed and alcohol. It becomes clear that Danny is more interested in watching Kat work-out (the squats are his obvious favorite) than doing any work himself.

Cobie Smulders does outshine her male counterparts in the film, but I'll be honest I've never really liked Guy Pearce (except for "Momento"). She brings a funny, sarcastic tone to her character, Kat, who hides behind it all in order to avoid emotional connections, which makes her somewhat relatable, and somewhat damaged, but fixable. Corrigan's Danny is not necessarily unlikable, but he seems like an unnecessary cog in the wheel in order to put Kat and Trevor together by the end of the film.

................................................................................
"One & Two"
starring: Kiernan Shipka, Timothee Chalamet, Elizabeth Reaser, Grant Bowler
written and directed by: Andrew Droz Palermo

The supernatural is often an aspect put into films to instill a sense of terror or horror, because it is widely accepted that people fear what they do not know or cannot explain. Rarely is the supernatural put into a film that focuses primarily on drama. In this indie film, writer/director Andrew Droz Palmero makes a bold statement about family and religion with a supernatural aspect in the same vein as an earlier Hollywood film called "Jumpers." Are you with me?

Eva (Kiernan Shipka) and Zac (Timothée Chalamet) are siblings who have supernatural abilities. They use them in a playful manner in order to escape from the worries of a troubled and isolated home. However, their bond is tested when reality threatens to tear their family apart. With both external and internal factors at work, they must overcome numerous obstacles if they hope to live the life that they have always dreamed of.

One & Two features a brother and sister who have been essentially isolated from society. Their mother (Elizabeth Reaser), father (Grant Bowler), and each other are all that they have. However, there is a great amount of tension within this household, yet it's never spoken of. Eva and Zac disobey their father by sneaking out of the house late at night and playing with their supernatural abilities. It's on one of these nights that Eva expresses her curiosity about the outside world, and wanting to experience it all. Zac seems a bit more hesitant. As the tension continues to escalate with their father, a distance begins to progressively grow between them. This lends itself to a story that largely discusses the bond between siblings, as they fight to keep their family together. However, their father questions whether Zac and Eva's supernatural abilities are a gift, or against God's design. One & Two speaks in large volumes about outcasts in society, and the discrimination that they face even from family members. It's a truly fascinating, yet heartbreaking display to witness a man being torn apart at the seams, only to end up punishing his family. 

Heavy, right? And yet, it works really well. It's an engaging film. And it's interesting to see Kiernan Shipka grown up from her role as Jon Hamm's daughter on "Mad Men" although, one could watch her grow up just by watching each season.

As a viewer, you feel cheated that there is no explanation given to how these siblings got their supernatural powers, but it does not seem all that important to the truer focus of the film- that being fear. Each character has a clear and present fear that can resonate with someone watching. The brother and sister are repeatedly psychologically and physically abused by their father and the whole scene of them getting nailed to their wall after disobeying their father is intense, which is further intensified when the filmmaker lingers on the single nail left in the wall. The siblings' journey is captivating and heartfelt.

Do not miss this film. And be prepared to feel something by the end.

...............................................................................
"Unexpected"
starring: Cobie Smulders, Anders Holm, Gail Bean, Elizabeth McGovern
written and directed by: Kris Swanberg

Worry is at the heart of this film about "unexpected" yet welcomed pregnancy for two very different female characters, perhaps because they are at different points in their lives, as well as different races (white versus black), but one thing is clear, both of their lives will ultimately be changed by the arrival of a child. They each welcome the challenge, but in different ways and at different paces. The film could explore the whole class division as well as socio-economic differences of the black teenage girl (played by Gail Bean) who seems to fall into her role of the cliche teenager who gets pregnant and "ruins" her potential for a life out of the "ghetto," but it does not do that, other than in the expected fashion, with a hint of the whole storyline of "Dangerous Minds" brought into the film.

Sam (Smulders) is an ambitious high school science teacher in an inner-city Chicago Public School that is set to be closed which means she'll lose her job when the school year ends. She is not too concerned or worried about that though because her home life is happy and she's got a wonderful and supportive boyfriend (played by Anders Holm), not to mention a great lead on a dream job developing curriculum through a field museum, which she is more than qualified for. She soon finds out she's pregnant, unexpectedly, hence the title, and then the panic sets in. Her boyfriend proposes and they get married in a small service at city hall. He remains supportive of Sam, but the discussion shifts to her becoming a stay at home mom, which freaks her out because Sam is presented as an independent woman who does not want to be solely defined by her child and motherhood status.

Jasmine (Gail Bean) is a senior with a GPA of 3.8 in Sam's science class, whom Sam takes under her wing, because she's got the odds stacked against her. Jasmine comes from a broken home. She's a minority. And she has to do everything harder and better than others around her if she wants a chance to escape the inner city life. But then, she finds out she's pregnant and her chances of college and a life outside of the hardships she's already faced become less clear.

When both ladies find out they are pregnant, their lives change course, their lives intersect, and even run parallel as their situation bonds them together, although it seems rather forced on Sam's part, in order to make herself feel better by helping Jasmine out of her situation.

Instead of playing the obvious dichotomies for cheap laughs or overwrought drama, director Kris Swanberg presents a thoughtful and layered drama that, in an odd sense, is a coming-of-age story where the ages don’t matter.

The dichotomies are there, of course. There’s no hiding the differences in race, age, or tax bracket, and Swanberg knows this. She never makes a big deal of it. There is never a moment where someone overtly says, “Well look at how different we are.” This is the real shrewdness of the storytelling. Rather than waste time stating the obvious, Swanberg lets those major differences speak for themselves, and instead spends her time developing differences that are, simultaneously, cleverly subtle similarities.

Both conceptions were unplanned. Despite the film’s title, this is possibly the most subtle similarity that creates the most impactful difference. It’s also another one Swanberg doesn’t spell out, but upon consideration, when a professional white woman with a live-in boyfriend gets pregnant, it’s viewed differently than when a teenage black girl with a new boyfriend gets pregnant. Both women have mother issues. Sam’s (played by Elizabeth McGovern) is judgmental and controlling; Jasmine’s is absentee. Both women have challenges with the fathers of their children. Sam’s is a nice problem to have in that John wants her to be a stay-at-home mom, but the father of Jasmine’s baby can’t make the time to go to the ultrasound. The issues are the same, but wildly different at the same time.

The film really works and is delightful because of the two female leads and their chemistry is great as they explore the teacher/student, mother/daughter, sisters, and BFFs type of relationships at different times throughout their journey together. This is an unexpected (pun intended) delightful film.